Improvement in tug-buckles for harness



19. W. ADAMS.

Tug Buckles for Harness.

NO. 135,744. Patented Feb-11,1873.

Wiinesses Inventor. 92w. $63M ZMA fl wm wl covering.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT Orrrcn.

CHARLES W. ADAMS, or WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TUG-BUCKLES FOR H ARNESS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,744, dated February 11, 1873.

Nata-re and Objects of the Invention.

This invention relates to a metallic tug and peculiar buckle of superior construction for use in connection with leather traces in any kind of harness, either with hames or breast strap, the invention being also applicable in part to other harness-buckles. The tug terminates at its front end in a loop or eye, and is perforated to facilitate sewing on a leather At its rear end a loop is formed to receive the trace-strap. The buckle consists of a rigid tongue or spike projecting from the tug, a box slide or sliding keeper to secure the strap on the tongue and to protect the same, and a metallic spring or strap to at tach this slide and to prevent its accidental displacement.

Description of the Drawing.

' slide detached and inverted.

General Description.

In carrying out this invent-ion a tug, A, is formed by inclosing a flat metallic plate, 2, ma leather covering, y, the plate being perforated to receive the stitching where necessary. This tugterminates at its front end in an eye, at, by which it is attached to the hames or breast strap, and'at its other extremity in a loop, w, to receive the end of a leather trace-strap, B. A stud or spike, 1:, projects from the outer side of the tug to form the tongue of the buckle. The movable part of the buckle is a metallic box-slide or slidingkeeper, 0, shown detached and inverted in Fig. 4. This has a deep notch, a, in one or both ends of its bottom to receive the tongue '0 in the projected position of the keeper. A bowed spring or metallic strap, t, riveted at both ends to the tug A, serves to attach this keeper and to press on its bottom so as to hold it from accidental displacement.

The sliding keeper 0 serves to securely lock the strap on the tongue, and at the same time covers the perforated portion and protects the same from the weather, thus preserving the strap and improving the appearance of the fastening. Another advantage of the buckle over those commonly used is that it obviates permanent bends in the strap, which operate to open the pores of the leather, and to strain the perforations, and thus to cause premature failure at the used points.

The strap in this buckle is held in a perfectly-straight line. The invention as a whole is believed to possess simplicity and neatness, combined with strength and utility in a supe rior degree.

The metallic portions of the tug and buckle may be of iron (plated where exposed) or of brass, or of both combined. The metallic plate 2 of the tug may be made in one part with its eye at, loop 'w, and tongue 17, or of several parts united by rivets.

The tug and buckle may be used either with hames or neck strap in any harness, or the in= vention may be applied to harness-buckles for use at other points.

The operation of the buckle is as follows:

To introduce the strap B slide the keeper 0 forward, as in Fig. 2, to expose the tongue '0, then introduce the end of the strap through the loop w and into the keeper 0 by bending it slightly over the tongue, then slide the strap through the proper distance and engage a perforation over the tongue 1:, then slide back the keeper, and the buckle is locked.

To detach the strap, slide forward the keep or and push the strap forward until it is released from the tongue, when it may be read il y withdrawn.

The employment of a metallic tug in com bination With a harness-buckle is known to be old, and is, therefore, disclaimed. It is known further that a buckle of different construction, but combining a rigid tongue and a box-slide,

Q new as in this, is the subject-matter of Binghams expired patent, dated December 10, 1850. 'This combination also is therefore disclaimed. The combination of a box-slide, a rigid tongue, and a spring-plate engaging with the slide so as to retain it, (the same not being employed in combination with a metallic tug to support the tongue and to attach the buckle,) and the said spring-plate not serving to attach and guide the slide, as in Tophams strap slide, for

sword-slings, patented April 22,1862, is also disclaimed. 

